Oppression

The majority of the novel deals with the rule of Verbauga and his daughter, Tsarmina. Verbauga is a tyrant who comes to Mossflower and kills the ruler so that he may take control of the area. Verbauga rules for many years, fighting back other invaders and caring for the people of Mossflower. Verbauga can be cruel, but his cruelty has a purpose. However, when Verbauga's daughter takes control of Mossflower, she rules with open cruelty that has little purpose but to further her own interests.

The woodlanders are a gentle people who only want to be left alone to live their lives. However, when Verbauga begins taking what little food and supplies they have for his own lauders, they begin to leave the area and ban together. When Tsarmina takes control, the woodlanders battle against her in many small skirmishes to protect their own. Tsarmina becomes enraged against...